Soviet Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Crew Released

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yu Chan informed Soviet Ambassador to China V.S. Tolstikov on December 27, 1975 of the following: On March 14. 1974. a Soviet Mi-4 armed reconnaissance helicopter entered the Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China, to an extent of over 70 kilometres and flew more than 400 kilometres over China's territory. At that time the Chinese public security organs held the crew members and the helicopter for investigation; this was necessary. Now things are clear after investigation by the Chinese public security organs, and they consider credible the Soviet crew members' statement about the unintentional flight into China, and have decided to release the three crew members, Captain A.S. Kurbatov, Lieutenant A.F. Uskov and Junior Lieutenant V.G. Buchelnikov and to return to the Soviet side the helicopter with all equipment and documents aboard. On the same day, representative of the Foreign Ministry Yu Hung-liang, Deputy Director of the Department of Soviet Union and East European Affairs, gave a dinner for Captain Kurbatov and the other two crew members before their departure for home. After visiting a factory, a people's commune and scenic spots in Peking, they left for home on December 29, 1975.